Boulder Creek, Calif. — On Monday, April 28, residents of Two Bar Road off Highway 9 in Boulder Creek discovered that their cat was bleeding from her rectum. They immediately took her to Boulder Creek Veterinary Hospital, where a veterinarian determined that the cat had been severely traumatized, apparently with a blunt object, in both the anus and vagina. The sexual assault, which, according to officials, may have involved multiple assailants, appears to have occurred sometime between 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, and 10 a.m. on Monday, April 28.

The cat survived her ordeal, but police have yet to make any arrests in connection with her assault. That’s whyPETA is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this violent crime.

“Study after study has confirmed that people who hurt animals often go on to hurt human beings,” says PETA Director Martin Mersereau. “So PETA is urging anyone with information to come forward now, before anyone else gets hurt.”

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter at 831-454-7303, extension 1.